AA opens new patrol training academy in Basingstoke
The The AA has opened a new state-of-the-art training academy in Basingstoke as part of a major investment in its patrol workforce.
The purpose-built facility will provide modern training for roadside patrols and mobile mechanics, supporting around 50 trainees each month depending on demand.
Located close to the company’s existing offices, the 15,521 sq ft, two-storey academy includes an indoor workshop, training rooms, meeting spaces and staff facilities. It has been designed using feedback from employees to create a flexible and energy-efficient learning environment.
The site also features space to display part of the organisation’s heritage fleet and archives, combining modern training with a celebration of the AA’s history.
Dean Keeling, managing director of AA Roadside Services, said the new academy would help accelerate learning and support career development.
“Our new training academy gives patrols a modern, practical space to help accelerate their learning experience as they join The AA or develop their careers with us,” he said.
He added that the investment would strengthen both the company and the wider workforce, with further improvements planned at its Oldbury site.
The new facility builds on the AA’s long history of training centres, including its former national training base at Widmerpool in Nottinghamshire, which operated for decades before newer sites were introduced.
Sustainability has also been a focus, with furniture and equipment reused from the organisation’s previous headquarters move within Basingstoke.
Local MP Luke Murphy welcomed the investment, describing it as a boost for jobs and skills in the area.
“This is really positive news for Basingstoke,” he said. “Training new patrols each month and expanding opportunities for mobile mechanics will help people learn skills, build careers and stay working locally.”
He added that the development reinforces Basingstoke’s role as a hub for training and employment.